Healing with Holistic Veterinary Care

Sanchez had been having neck problems for a few months. When I first noticed the problem, the symptoms were acute, appeared very suddenly after little activity, and were very worrisome. At the worst flare-up one weekend, pain management was so challenging that I didn’t know if I could keep him alive for the weekend. He had nerve pain going down his leg and both of us slept very little in a 48 hour period.

That Monday he was at Coastal Holistic Complementary Veterinary Services, where both of my dogs are patients. While Dr. Molly Rice and Dr. Kari DeLeeuw are both DVM’s, they are also certified veterinary acupuncturists and chiropractors. He responded extremely well to acupuncture treatments, even when he went into the office crying in pain. Their holistic treatments literally saved Sanchez’s life and I am grateful beyond words.

In the above picture, Sanchez is receiving electrostimulator acupuncture treatment, a form of acupuncture in which a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles. This form of treatment is particularly helpful in treating pain, in this case quite severe pain. An X-ray read by a radiologist revealed that he had a slipped disc in his neck and joint mice in his shoulder area.

A few months have passed, and I’m happy to say that Sanchez is off all medication (except for an herbal supplement) and is showing signs of acting like a puppy again. He is nine years old and there are some ongoing lifestyle changes to consider. I’ll never attach a leash to his neck (only to a harness), he’ll always have to do a 15 minute warm-up walk on leash before he gets let off-leash, and he now uses a ramp to avoid jumping out of the car. But, that’s a small price to pay for having a healed, healthy, vibrant dog.

Both Sanchez and Gina also receive canine massage treatments from Dr. Cindy DiFranco. With the help of her instructional canine massage DVD, I’ve even been able to do a bit of canine massage myself with them.

I am grateful beyond words that Sanchez didn’t need surgery to recover. And this scare was also a reminder that every day he has left with me is a gift. I’m counting my blessings!

Have you ever sought holistic veterinary care for your pets? If not, would you consider it in the future? Thanks for sharing your experience in a comment below.

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I have been to holistic vets. I wish there was one closer to me as they are about an hour away. I was bringing my Boston Terrier to a chiropractor who was great-really she touched him and it was fear and stress free for him. I a trying to get back to the vet but just need decent weather and chunk of time which is luckily more possible these days. They can be more expensive but are worth it.

I wish I had vets in my area who specialized in this. My current vets I like, but it's been my experience that most vets frown upon such treatments. Even when I tell them I'm using an all natural supplement, you can sense that they aren't fond that I do so. I really wish I could try a holistic vet, perhaps more will go into this field so more options would be available to try besides traditional veterinary medicine.

~ This I believe: as beings, our emotional and physical issues are closely related.
~ This I have witnessed: Holistic medicine gets to the root of the problem and heals from the inside out.
~ This I see: many clients with pets with even severe emotional/behavioral issues have benefited beyond imagining with treatment for a talented Holistic Vet.
~ Take a peek at the video on this page re the effect simply of calming music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A0iY0bQzJCA

I have wondered if these sort of treatments would work. And how about it being used for abused and tormented animals? Can it heal these suffering souls? I think i'll give it try. Thanks very much for sharing.